Apparatus and process for winding yarn



Jan. 20, 1970 w. NAEGELI 3,490,218 APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR WINDINGYARN Filed Jan. 20, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WERNER NfiE-GEL Vivya.) Wm

Jam 20, 1970 Filed Jan. 20, i967 W. NAEGELI APPARATUS AND PROCESS FORWINDING YARN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.7

INVENTOR. WERNER NAEGEL! WJ W y/FWTO 3,490,218 APPARATUS AND PROCESS FORWINDING YARN Werner Naegeli, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignor to RieterMachine Works, Ltd., Winterthur, Switzerland, a corporation ofSwitzerland Filed Jan. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 610,633 Claims priority,application Switzerland, Jan. 26, 1966, 1,005/ 66 Int. Cl. D01h 13/26US. Cl. 5734 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An underwinding elementand process for spinning frames fixed on a spindle for winding of a cop.The circumferential groove is filled with the windings of theunderwinding coil and the slots allow the lead yarn to be woven into andabout the groove before forming the underwinding coil to prevent looseends and rotation of the underwinding coil in the groove. The lead yarnis moved up and down to be interwoven between the slots and groove andguided into place by the ring and ring coil.

This invention relates to an apparatus and process for winding yarn.More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and process forwinding yarn on ring spinning and ring twisting frames, and, still moreparticularly, for underwinding the yarn on these frames.

It has been known in the past when spinning yarn to underwind onto thebare spindle when spinning onto Northrop bobbins (i.e. filling bobbins);the underwinding reverse being wound as a rule on the cylindrical partof the spindle. However, this underwinding has been attended with thedisadvantage that the underwinding coils remaining on the spindle mustbe removed manually after one or more dofiings. It has also been knownto provide a width of the cylindrical part of the spindle with afish-skin grooving for positioning of the underwinding reserve therein.In such cases, in order to attempt a mechanization of the dofling of theunderwinding reserve, scrapper elements have been used which pass closeto the underwinding reserve. However, such attempts have beenunsuccessful since the underwinding coils have opened under thecentrifugal force applied and have thus become detached from the spindleso that doifing in an orderly manner has been prevented.

In order to overcome these problems, the underwinding has in someinstances, particularly in the case of warp yarn, been applied to thetube carrying the yarn in order to reduce the work required to keep thespindles clean. Nevertheless, yarn residues have unavoidably accumulatedon the spindles following each dofiing and, as a rule, such residueshave to be removed by an operator upon repairing of a thread break.

Consequently, the application of the underwinding on the spindle haspresently regained importance since only this application makes itpossible to further automate the spinning process. However, the spindlemust be designed to acconmiodate an underwinding coil and theunderwinding must be operated in a strictly controlled manner, ratherthan arbitrarily as has previously been the case, in order tosufiiciently compact and intimately join the underwinding coil to thespindle. Only in this way United States Patent ice is it possible tosubsequently remove the underwinding coil satisfactorily by mechanicalmeans.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to accommodate atunderwinding on a spindle.

It is another object of the invention to sufficiently compact andintimately join an underwinding coil on a spindle of a spring or twisterframe.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus andprocess for underwinding on a spindle of a spinning or twister frame.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus andprocess for underwinding a coil on a spindle which is relatively rapidand inexpensive.

It is another object of the invention to reduce the maintenance of aspinning or twister frame.

It is another object of the invention to permit automatic dofiing of aspinning or twister frame.

It is another object of the invention to provide a spindle with anintegral groove for accommodating an underwinding coil.

Briefly, the invention provides an apparatus and process forunderwinding a yarn on a spindle after a major portion of the yarn hasbeen wound on the bobbin.

The apparatus of the invention includes a spindle having an underwindingelement positioned around the p riphery thereof below the plane at whicha yarn is wound on a bobbin and above a take-up section on the spindle.The underwinding element is formed with a groove peripheral of thespindle to accommodate an underwinding coil and with a series ofsubstantially perpendicular slots communicating the groove with theexterior of the underwinding element to permit entry and exit of a yarninto the groove. The slots are disposed to either side of the groove topermit passage of a yarn in either direction out of or into the groove.

In another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, theunderwinding element is formed with a peripheral groove below the groovefor the underwinding coil. This second groove is inclined upwardly tothe axis of the spindle and serves to form a take-up section below andwithin the plane of the underwinding coil groove.

Still another embodiment of the apparatus includes an underwindingelement having a take-up section which is positioned above theunderwinding element and which communicates with an underwinding groovein the element through a series of slots.

The slots on the underwinding element are arranged above and below theunderwinding groove in either of an aligned manner or acircumferentially offset manner.

The process of the invention includes the steps of initially taking-upof the trailing portion of the yarn not wound on the bobbin and windingthat portion on the underwinding element on the spindle mounting thebobbin. The yarn is first wound on the spindle in a plane coincidentwith the groove of the underwinding element, the yarn passing throughone of the slot in the element. Thereafter, the yarn is moved into asecond plane coincident with the take-up section of the spindle, againpassing through a communicating slot in the element. The yarn is woundin this second plane for a very brief period of time and is thenreturned to the first plane where it again is wound into theunderwinding groove to complete an underwinding coil. The underwindingcoil which is thus formed is compact and intimately joined to theunderwinding element.

Upon completion of the underwinding process, the yarn can be severed ata suitable point to permit the bobbin to be removed from the spindlewhile the underwinding coil remains on the underwinding element of thespindle in a neat clean manner. This facilitates the automatic doifingof the bobbins.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description and appended claimstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevational view of a spindle of theinvention, partially cut-away, on a spinning frame;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of only the underwinding element of thespindle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of an underwinding element with aninclined take-up groove below an underwinding groove;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a partial development of thecircumferential surface of the underwinding element of FIG. 1 with anoutline of the lead yarn and underwinding coil;

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged fragmentary view of the underwinding coilof FIG. 4 after coverage of the lead yarn;

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of an underwinding element in afragmentary partially cut-away view;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a partial development of theunderwinding element of FIG. 6 with the lead yarn during take-u FIG. 8schematically illustrates a partial development of an underwindingelement having circumferentially offset slots on either side of anunderwinding groove;

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a partial development of anotherunderwinding element; and

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a partial development similar to FIG.4 with a modified coiling pattern.

Referring to FIG. 1, a spindle 2 of a plurality of spindles situated ona spinning frame is driven by a common drive belt 1 in a known manner. Atube 3 is positioned on the spindle 2 for the Winding of a yarn 4thereon and a vertically reciprocal moving ring 5 is positionedconcentrically to the spindle. A traveller 6 is mounted on the ring 5 totravel around the ring 5 circumferentially of the spindle to lay theyarn on the tube 3. A ring rail 7 is positioned under the ring 5 inorder to transmit vertical motion to the ring 5.

An underwinding element 9 is integrally formed on the spindle wharve 8contacted by the drive belt 1 below the tube 3. The element 9 has aperipheral groove 10 for accommodating an underwinding coil 11 and apair of limiting flanges 12, 13 which serve to define the walls of thegroove 10.

In addition, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of recesses orslots 16 are formed over the peripheral edge of the underwinding element9 to pass through the limiting flanges 12, 13 and to radially penetratethe bottom of the groove 10 (FIG. 2). The slots 16 are in substantialparallel alignment with the axis of the spindle 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, in operation, after completion of a standardbuild-up of the yarn 4, with or without inclusion of a tip bunch (notshown), the ring rail 7 is lowered to form the underwinding coil 11. Inthe course of this lowering process, the yarn which is being guidedtoward the inside by the traveller 6 comes into contact with thelimiting flange 12 and, depending on the respective speeds of the flange12 and the traveller 6, the yarn is caught by one of the recesses orslots 16. As the ring rail 7 continues to descend the yarn 18 moves intothe plane E of the groove 10 and becomes deflected at the edge 14 (FIG.4) of the underwinding element 9 while beginning to fill the groove.Upon further lowering of the ring rail 7 from the plane E to beneath.the limiting flange 13, the thread is caught again in a recess or slot16 while deflecting twice at edges and 19 and wound up in the plane E ofa take-up section 20 of the spindle 2. The

yarn is wound up on the take-up section 20 for a very brief period only.In any event, the wind up length of the yarn on the take-up section 20is to be just large enough to permit automatic and complete removal ofthe taken up yarn length from the spindle 2 during a subsequentmechanical dofling of the underwinding coil 11. Preferably, therefore,the yam is wound onto the take-up section 20 over a length that is lessthan the entire circumference of the section with the ring rail 7remaining in its lowermost position for a correspondingly short periodof time.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, after the yarn has been Wound on the take-upsection 20 for the required distance the ring rail 7 is raised so thatthe above described yarn catching process now occurs in reversesequence, that is, the yarn enters one of the recesses or slots 16 ofthe lower flange 13 from underneath and then enters the groove 10. Theyarn now remains substantially in that position and, as a result, theactual underwinding coil 11 is built up from individual circumferentialwindings 26-31 (FIG. 5).

The number of windings in the underwinding coil depends upon thedeceleration of the ring spinning or twisting frame motor upon braking(eg. through an exterior braking assembly) As a rule braking of themotor occurs during the lowering of the ring rail 7. For economicconsiderations it is naturally appropriate to keep the number ofwindings as low as possbile since such material constitutes waste. Thisobject is readily achieved since the lead yarn is systematically boundin on the underwinding element 9 and need subsequently be covered byonly a few circumferential windings in the groove 10.

Referring to FIG. 10, the coiling pattern on the underwinding part 9obviously depends on the wind-up speed of the yarn and the chronologicbehavior of the ring rail 7. Thus, for example, all other conditionsremaining equal, in the case of a slower lowering of the ring rail 7 andan extremely brief dwell interval in its lowest position than that usedfor the coiling pattern illustrated in FIG. 4, the resultant coilingpattern substantially corresponds to that shown in FIG. 10. Thisprovides for a weaving-in and tightening of the lead yarn 21 bydeflecting it several times into portions 22-25 of the underwindingelement 9 and permits intimate joining of the lead yarn with the spindleby means of the coil 11 proper.

After an underwinding has been formed, the yarn is torn off slightlyabove the underwinding element 9, approximately at R (FIG. I) and theyarn 4 including tube 3 is removed from the spindle 2. After fitting ofanother empty tube onto the spindle 2, the ring rail 7 is raised in aknown manner into initial spinning position and the machine reactuated.This results in the entry of the yarn 32 (FIG. 4) at the end of anunderwinding coil into any recess 16 of the upper limiting flange 12 forpassage from there onto the freshly inserted empty tube.

Refer-ring to FIG. 3, an underwinding element 33 is upwardly andinwardly recessed at an angle to form a groove 35 beneath theunderwinding groove 34. As a result, the space between the plane Ecoincident with under-winding groove 34, and the plane E coincident withthe adjoining take-up section 36 is considerably reduced. Likewise, thecircumferentially arranged recesses or slots 37 coming from the take-upsection 36 penetrate deeper into the underwinding element 33 than thebottom of the groove 34. This arrangement makes it possible to maintainthe angle a between the plane E and the path of the yarn from the groove34 to the take-up section 34 very small. Thus, upon re-entry from belowinto the groove 34, the yarn is positioned profoundly on the bottom ofthe groove 34 and is therefore also satisfactorily covered by thesubsequent underwinding coil 11'. This is very important for thesubsequent mechanical dotfing of the coil in that one can prevent apremature severing of the lead yarn holding the coil 11' which severingwould result in a sliding of the coil in the groove 34 making positivedofiing impossible.

In other respects, the coiling pattern resulting in this underwindingelement 33 substantially corresponds to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 10.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a spindle 2' is integrally formed with anunderwinding element 9' having a groove 10 defined by a shoulder 45 ofthe spindle 2' and a single limiting flange 12'. Also, a take-up section46 is provided on the upper part of the underwinding element 9' and, asabove, a series of peripherally spaced recesses or slots 16 are formedin the lmiiting flange,' shoulder, groove 10' and take-up section 46. Inoperation, following insertion of a short length of yarn 38 into theplane E coincident with groove 10 a short length of yarn 39 is taken upin the plane E coincident with the take-up section 46 by a brief raisingand subsequent lowering of the ring rail. Thereupon, the yarn returnsimmediately into the plant E to complete the underwindingi'coil 11'.Also, in this instance, the lead yarn is first woven-in into parts ofthe underwinding section by subjecting it to a plurality of deflections,and then covered. Each deflection represents an increase in fraction andhence, even with few terminal windings, trouble free restarting ofspinning and favorable conditions for mechanical dofling of the coil 11"are created.

Referring to FIG. 8, a coiling pattern can be produced to efiect agreater number of yarn deflections by circumferentially displacing therecesses 40 and 41 of the upper and lower limiting flange with respectto each other rather than arranging these recesses in facing relation.

Referring to FIG. 9, the binding-in and tightening of a lead yarn bycoil 11" can be assured in recesses 42 which are circumferentiallygreatly enlarged while being just as deep as the groove 43 at the pointof intersection 44. 1

In order to achieve a reliable guidance of the yarn, it has generallybeen found to be advantageous to keep the diameter of the limitingflange large. In extreme cases, it may correspond to the maximumdiameter of the cop. This provision also makes it possible to minimizethe travel motions of the ring rail in view of the fact that thecatching of the yarn by the recesses upon transition from one coilingplane to another occurs much more readily.

The invention described creates the prerequisites indispensable for theautomating of ring spinning. On the other hand, following removal of thefilled cop, the woven-in and tightened lead yarn of the underwindingcoil is no longer detached as a result of centrifugal force, therebyeliminating entangling during spinning restart and guaranteeing a cleanspinning process all around. On the other hand, the systematicweaving-in and tightening of the lead yarn is actually the factor thatmakes it possible to achiece positive and trouble free dofiing of theunderwinding coil by means of a simple underwinding element. Theunderwinding coil can neither rotate nor open up by centrifugal force inthe groove, rather, following the spinning-on of the lead yarn for a newcop, it can be dotfed at any time without any difliculty from theoutside to the inside. For the very same .1;eason, the number ofterminal winding-s can also be kept to a minimum, which is in theinterest of achieving low material wastes.

In addition, the spindles remain perfectly clean at all times. A lockingor jamming of the tubes on the spindlesas a result of the presence ofuncontrolled yarn residues does not occur. Even the cops themselves areneat and clean in appearance thereby making them suitable for automaticspooling.

Having thus described the invention it is not intended that it be solimited as changes may be readily made therein without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the subjectmatter described above and shown in the drawings be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a spindle for mounting of a tube thereon toreceive a yarn in a spinning operation; an

underwinding element integral with said spindle positioned peripherallyabout said spindle below the tube for receiving an underwinding coil,said underwinding element having a first circumferential groove in theperiphery thereof to receive the underwinding coil and a plurality ofslots substantially parallel to the axis of said spindle communicatingsaid groove with opposite sides of said element; and a take-up sectionon said spindle on one side of said underwinding element, said slotscommunicating said take-up section with said groove.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said underwindingelement includes a pair of limiting flanges defining said groove andsaid slots pass through said flanges.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said slotsradially'penetrate said groove.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises aring concentric to said spindle, a traveller slidably mounted on saidring for guiding a yarn therethrough relative to said spindle and a ringrail for moving said ring vertically with respect to said spindle.

5. In combination with a spindle for mounting of a tube thereon toreceive a yarn in a spinning operation; an underwinding element integralwith said spindle positioned peripherally about said spindle below thetube for receiving an ,lunderwinding coil, said underwinding elementhaving a first circumferential groove in the periphery thereof toreceive the underwinding coil, a second circumferential groove angularlydisposed to the axis of said spindle in the periphery thereof to oneside of said first groove-and having a bottom disposed radially inwardlyof said first groove, and a plurality of slots substantially parallel tothe axis of said spindle communicating said first groove with saidsecond groove and with opposite sides of said element.

6. In combination with a spindle having a shoulder thereon for mountingof a tube thereon to receive a yarn in a spinning operation; anunderwinding element integral with said spindle positioned peripherallyabout said spindle below the tube for receiving an underwinding coil,said underwinding element having a take-up section and a limiting flangeopposite said shoulder between said shoulder and take-up section, saidshoulder and said flange forming a circumferential groove in theperiphery thereof to receive the underwinding coil and a plurality ofslots substantially parallel to the axis of said spindle communicatingsaid'groove, shoulder, flange and take-up section with each other.

7. In a ring spinning frame, a spindle having a wharve thereon, aportion thereon for mounting of a tube to receive a yarn in a spinningoperation, a peripheral underwinding element integrally on said spindlebetween said wharve and said portion, and a take-up section on one sideof said underwinding element; said underwinding element having a firstcircumferential groove in the periphery thereof to receive anunderwinding coil of yarn and a plurality of slots substantiallyparallel to the axis of said spindle communicating said groove with saidtake-up section for winding ofa take-up length of yarn therein.

8. In combination with a spindle for mounting of a tube thereon toreceive a yarn in a spinning operation; an underwinding element integralwith said spindle positioned peripherally about said spindle below thetube for receiving an underwinding coil, said underwinding ele'-' menthaving a first circumferential groove in the periphery thereof toreceive the underwinding coil and a plurality of slots substantiallyparallel to the axis of said spindle communicating said groove with anopposite side of said element; and a take-up section on said spindle onsaid side of said underwinding element, said slots communicating saidtake-up section with said groove.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 which further compirses aring means about said spindle and said underwinding element for moving ayarn into said groove and onto said take-up section whereby the yarn ismovable initially from said groove onto said take-up section ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1950 Bradish 57- 131 X 10/1958 Banmgartenet a1 57-34 8 12/1962 Baer 57-54 12/1964 Green 57-34 FOREIGN PATENTS 10/1959 Canada.

DONALD E. WATKINS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

